Tips on Preventing Lyme Disease

Blech, ticks. They make most people nervous . . . and they can make you pretty sick, too.

This year’s mild winter and wet spring make it a boomer year for ticks. In Minnesota, peak season is April-July and September-October.

Deer ticks (“blacklegged tick”) can carry several diseases that may infect humans. The most common – and dangerous – is Lyme disease.

Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection; if untreated, it can cause facial paralysis, arthritis, short-term memory problems, double vision, chronic fatigue and more. Patients treated with antibiotics in the early stages of Lyme disease usually recover rapidly and completely

Lyme Disease symptoms include:

­ Rash that may look like a bulls-eye, a red ring with a clear center (can grow to several inches wide). It might not be itchy or painful – and not everyone gets a rash, and not every rash is a bulls-eye.

­ Fever and chills

­ Muscle and joint pain

­ Headache

­ Feeling tired and weak

Symptoms usually appear within 30 days of a tick bite. If you have any of these symptoms and live in an area known for Lyme Disease, see your healthcare provider.

The good news is, a tick must be attached to your skin for 24-48 hours before it can spread the Lyme Disease bacteria.

The bad news is, deer ticks are so small (picture a sesame seed) that they’re easy to miss, and people often don’t realize they’ve been bitten.

The best protection? Prevent tick bites altogether.

The MINNESOTA?? Department of Health recommends that you:

­ Use DEET-based repellents (up to 30%) on skin or clothing. Do not use DEET on infants under 2 months of age.

­ Use permethrin-based repellent on clothing and gear to pre-treat for protection up to 2 weeks. Do not apply permethrin to your skin.